AI/LLM Network Research Intern (High Speed Network) - 2027 Start (PhD)

ByteDance Networking brings together innovative ideas and technologies from network architecture, software defined networking (SDN), network virtualization, switch software and hardware co-design, and high-speed networking to create hyperscale data-center networking solutions that power apps like Douyin and TikTok, serving hundreds of millions of users globally.

About the role

Join our team as a PhD intern to gain hands-on software development and network operation experience in data center networking at massive scale. This internship offers the opportunity to actively contribute to our products and research, shaping future technologies through hands-on learning, community-building, and collaboration with industry experts.

Responsibilities

• Design, optimize, implement, and deploy high-performance transport protocols to support AI/LLM applications.
• Design, optimize, implement, and deploy congestion control algorithms to support AI/LLM applications.
• Research and develop high-performance AI communication frameworks, network protocol stacks, and co-design optimization of host-network-application to improve scalability, reliability, and performance of AI/LLM networks.
• Follow the latest technologies from academia and industry, identify innovative system components, and present findings in academic papers.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a PhD in computer networking or a related technical discipline.
• Experience with at least one of the following areas:
  • Familiarity with network protocols like TCP and RoCEv2.
  • Network programming experience based on Socket and verbs APIs.
  • Familiarity with Data Center congestion control algorithms, understanding their pros and cons.
• Knowledge of scale-up protocols like PCIe, NVLink, UALink, and their differences with scale-out network protocols.
• Experience in high-speed network systems, including RDMA, congestion control, and AI network optimization.
• Proficiency in one or several mainstream programming languages, including C/C++, Python, or Go.
• Basic knowledge of GPU architecture.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with AI training/inference systems and software-hardware co-design.
• Publications in top-tier networking conferences such as NSDI, SIGCOMM, OSDI, or SOSP.
• Experience developing high-performance communication frameworks (e.g., NCCL, MPI, RPC libraries).

Pay

The hourly rate for this internship position is $60.

Benefits

• Day-one access to health insurance, life insurance, and wellbeing benefits.
• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Paid sick time (56 hours if hired in the first half of the year; 40 hours if hired in the second half).
• Eligibility for housing allowance (for interns not working 100% remote).

About Us

Founded in 2012, ByteDance’s mission is to inspire creativity and enrich life. Our suite of products, including TikTok, Lemon8, CapCut, and Pico, as well as platforms like Toutiao, Douyin, and Xigua in China, make it easier and more fun for people to connect, consume, and create content.

At ByteDance, we strive to do great things with great people, fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset to achieve meaningful breakthroughs for our community, company, and users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless.